Reports of Robert Mugabe's political demise have been greatly exaggerated on numerous occasions.

As the situation in Zimbabwe has gone from bad to worse to disastrous in recent years, Harare has been rife with rumours that he will shortly be leaving office, either due to ill-health or political pressure.

Is Mugabe looking for a way out?

So far, he has outlived many of the rumour-mongers.

But he cannot carry on for ever.

The government now admits that serious action is needed to revive the economy.

Annual inflation is running at more than 500%, three-quarters of Zimbabweans do not have a job and half the population needs food aid.

The government has tried to improve living standards by controlling prices but this has only led to shortages and black markets for everything from foreign currency and fuel to sugar, cooking oil and the staple food, maize meal.

So now the authorities are looking for alternatives.

Strong hints

But until the political stand-off is ended, few businessmen or women will feel confident enough to make the investments needed to kick-start the economy.

Mr Mugabe has for the first time mentioned the possibility of his retirement.